@afneil Time to lay the lie that Tax affairs are “a Private Matter” for criminals, terrorists and VIP’s

I wrote this as an email to the Daily Mirror but I’m posting it on my Blog, so it’s on record.

published version at foot of page

At a time when World leader’s are busy passing laws such as Theresa May’s Snoopers’ Charter, how can anyone claim that tax affairs are “a private matter”.
You (Daily Mirror) quote Labour MP Jess Phillips as repeating this mantra as only applying to ordinary people.

She’s wrong,

The tax affairs of ordinary people are known to HMRC and whoever hands over their PAYE deductions.
Only the rich and powerful can afford those, who manage tax avoidance, and it is they who spout this lie as an unassailable right.
Tax affairs are not a “Private Matter”, especially when it has been shown that the same arrangements are used by criminals and, I would suspect, the terrorist organisations, whom the Snoopers’ Charter is alleged to be trying to uncover.
It’s time that World Leader’s tidied up these rogue States, who seem to be concentrated in the Caribbean.
It was interesting, as one Anon tweeted, that no USA citizens were named, especially as the company had the logo of USaid at the bottom of the leaked document and this area is within the US sphere of influence.
I don’t expect anyone will end up in prison as a consequence of this exposure (although I suppose Chilcott can be imposed on to manage another inquiry, which will never report back).

All we can do is to continue denounce the lie that tax affairs are “a Private Matter”

Published as:We pay the price for tax avoiders
At a time when world leaders are passing laws such as Theresa May’s
Snooper’s Charter, how can anyone claim that tax affairs are “a private
matter”, as Cameron did when questioned about his father’s alleged tax
avoidance?
The tax affairs of ordinary people are known to HMRC and only the rich
and powerful can afford to use these tax-avoidance schemes.
|t’s time world leaders tidied up these tax havens, which seem to be
concentrated in the Caribbean.
I don’t expect anyone will end up in prison as a consequence of this –
exposure. All we can do is continue to denounce the lie that tax affairs
are “a private matter”.